Somatic nuclear mitochondrial DNA (Numt) insertions are mito-nuclear gene transfer events that can arise in the germline and in cancer. This study shows that Numt insertions arise spontaneously and accumulate in brain tissues during development or over the human lifespan.
Credit: Lior Kirsch, 2016, PLOS Computational Biology, CC-BY 4.0 (
Somatic nuclear mitochondrial DNA (Numt) insertions are mito-nuclear gene transfer events that can arise in the germline and in cancer. This study shows that Numt insertions arise spontaneously and accumulate in brain tissues during development or over the human lifespan.
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In your coverage, please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper in PLOS Biology:
Author Countries: United States
Funding: see manuscript
Journal
PLoS Biology
Method of Research
Observational study
Subject of Research
Cells
COI Statement
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Cite Scienmag News
Cassandra Pierce. (August 22, 2024). Spontaneous transfer of mitochondrial DNA into the nuclear genomes in the human brain over the individual’s lifespan. Scienmag. https://scienmag.com/spontaneous-transfer-of-mitochondrial-dna-into-the-nuclear-genomes-in-the-human-brain-over-the-individuals-lifespan/
Cassandra Pierce. "Spontaneous transfer of mitochondrial DNA into the nuclear genomes in the human brain over the individual’s lifespan." Scienmag, 22 August 2024, https://scienmag.com/spontaneous-transfer-of-mitochondrial-dna-into-the-nuclear-genomes-in-the-human-brain-over-the-individuals-lifespan/. Accessed 4 September 2026.
Cassandra Pierce. "Spontaneous transfer of mitochondrial DNA into the nuclear genomes in the human brain over the individual’s lifespan." Scienmag. August 22, 2024. https://scienmag.com/spontaneous-transfer-of-mitochondrial-dna-into-the-nuclear-genomes-in-the-human-brain-over-the-individuals-lifespan/
